Tyler Wynn
Sonos is a popular manufacturer of wireless speakers and soundbars. In 2017, Sonos announced the Playbase, a soundbase that was larger and deeper than a soundbar, allowing a TV to rest on top of it. The Playbase was discontinued in 2020, the same year Sonos released its first Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Arc. The Playbase had a slim, low-profile design and offered enormous bass, clear vocals, and ease of use. It was well-received by customers and reviewers, who praised its sound quality, aesthetics, and seamless integration with existing Sonos systems. However, some noted minor glitches with bass and mid-range frequencies, and its small size limited its compatibility with larger TVs. Sonos has since shifted its focus to soundbars and other audio products, discontinuing the Playbase after less than three years on the market.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Product | Sonos Playbase |
| Type | Soundbase |
| Year of Launch | 2017 |
| Year Discontinued | 2020 |
| Size | 28.6 x 15 x 2.3 inches |
| Colour | White or Black |
| Controls | Minimal buttons, touch-sensitive play and pause button, volume control |
| Streaming Capabilities | Built-in streaming capabilities |
| App | Sonos app |
| Connectivity | Wi-fi, Airplay 2 |
| Accessories | Ethernet cable, optical cable, power lead |
| Sound | Enormous bass, clear vocals, good sound quality |
| Competitors | Q Acoustics, Cambridge Audio, Denon, Panasonic, Raumfeld Sounddeck, JBL Cinema Base |
| Other Sonos Products | Playbar, Arc, Play:3, Beam, Amp, One, Sub Mini, ERA 100, ERA 300, Ace |
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What You'll Learn
Sonos discontinued the Playbase in 2020
Sonos discontinued its Playbase in 2020, just three years after its launch. The Playbase was a soundbase, a home theatre component similar to a soundbar but larger and deeper, allowing a TV to rest on top of it. Sonos claimed that up to 70% of all TVs sat on top of furniture, not against a wall, making the Playbase a viable option for many users.
The Playbase offered enormous bass, clear vocals, and ease of use. It could also be grouped with other Sonos speakers and subwoofers to create a more immersive sound system. However, one downside was that it needed a TV with feet fairly close together to rest on top, typically a TV that was 50 inches or smaller. As TV sizes increased over time, the compatibility of the Playbase reduced.
Despite its impressive performance, the Playbase had a short lifespan, and Sonos shifted its focus to soundbars, releasing its first Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Arc, in 2020. While the Playbase is discontinued, it left a lasting impression, with some users still praising its design and sound quality even years after its discontinuation.
Sonos has continued to innovate and expand its product line, with recent releases including the Sub Mini wireless subwoofer in 2022, the ERA 100 and ERA 300 speakers in 2023, and a foray into wireless headphones with the Sonos Ace in 2024.
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The Playbase was a soundbase, a larger and deeper version of a soundbar
The Sonos Playbase is now discontinued. The Playbase was a soundbase, a home theatre component similar to a soundbar but larger and deeper so that a TV could rest on top of it. Sonos claimed that "up to 70% of all TVs sat on top of furniture, not against a wall" when they announced the Playbase in 2017.
The Playbase was a soundbase that offered a simple and great-sounding way to improve your TV's sound. It had enormous bass, clear vocals, and good ease of use. It was also upgradable; it could be grouped with other Sonos speakers and subwoofers to create a more immersive sound system.
The Playbase was well-reviewed, with many praising its sound quality and performance. It was described as "the ultimate soundbar" and "one of the best speakers for TV". However, some reviews noted that the low end could sometimes be a little overpowering and the mids could be unclear.
The Playbase had a short run, lasting less than three years before Sonos stopped selling it in 2020. Sonos now sells three different soundbars, including the Arc, their first Dolby Atmos soundbar. The Playbase's discontinuation may be due to the increasing size of TVs, which made the Playbase incompatible with many newer models.
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Soundbases were incompatible with supersized TVs
The Sonos Playbase was a soundbase, a home theatre component similar to a soundbar but larger and deeper so that a TV could rest on top of it. Sonos claimed that up to 70% of all TVs sat on top of furniture, not against a wall. However, as TVs have gotten bigger, soundbases have become incompatible with them.
Soundbases were not wide, so you needed a TV with feet fairly close together—a TV that was likely 50 inches or smaller. While this was a more common size for TVs in the mid-to-late 2010s, it is no longer the case. Today, the most popular TV size is 65 inches.
Because of this incompatibility with supersized TVs, soundbases have become obsolete. As Alex Munro, brand director at Q Acoustics, explained, "The market for soundbases [has] greatly reduced as the size and typical mounting methods for TVs are a lot less compatible with locating a soundbase adjacent to them."
While Sonos' Playbase offered many positives, such as enormous bass, clear vocals, and ease of use, it was discontinued in 2020. Sonos now sells three different soundbars, including the Arc, its first Dolby Atmos soundbar.
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Sonos now sells three different soundbars
Sonos has discontinued its Playbase soundbase, a home theatre component similar to a soundbar but larger and deeper so that a TV could rest on top of it. The Playbase was launched in 2017 and was discontinued in 2020, the same year Sonos released its first Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Arc.
Sonos also sells wireless speakers, including the Sonos Era 100, Era 300, Move 2, Roam 2, and Five, as well as over-ear headphones called the Sonos Ace.
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Sonos has discontinued other products, including Recycle Mode
Sonos has discontinued its Playbase, a soundbase (or soundbar) home theatre component that was launched in 2017. The Playbase was larger and deeper than a soundbar, allowing a TV to rest on top of it. Sonos claimed that "up to 70% of all TVs sat on top of furniture, not against a wall" when the Playbase was released. However, the product was discontinued in 2020, with Sonos citing the incompatibility of newer, larger TVs with the Playbase as one of the reasons.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Sonos discontinued its sound base, the Playbase, in 2020. The Playbase was a home theatre component similar to a soundbar but larger and deeper so that a TV could rest on top of it.
The Playbase was discontinued because soundbars are more versatile and do not need to be wall-mounted. Soundbases were also not wide enough to accommodate the larger TVs of today.
Yes, you can still buy a refurbished Playbase.
